Information and Communications Technology

The Information and Communications Technology Industry

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry incorporates Telecommunications and Information Technology. The ICT industry is crucial in supporting a rapidly changing environment that provides services for businesses as a whole. The industry coverage has expanded to cover the convergence of technologies across a number of industry areas including telecommunication, information technology and digital media. Both training packages (ICA11 and ICT10) are designed to ensure that this convergence is encapsulated within and across the different qualifications.

The industry is characterised by a large number of small businesses employing a fraction of the industry's workers, and a small number of much larger organisations employing a larger percentage of the ICT workforce. The prevalence of contract based work and the rapid rate of change in the industry present challenges for skill development, but addressing training needs is absolutely essential for Australia's social and economic wellbeing. The Information and Communications Technology Training Package and the Integrated Telecommunications Training Package address the skill needs of the ICT industry, enterprises and individuals. Hence, it can be said that ICT has become an indispensable tool for modern individuals and industries.

Areas within the ICT industry include:

Information and Communications Technology sectors

Networking and network security

Services and support

Testing

Database design and development

Software development

Systems analysis and design

Systems administration and management

Web and multimedia technologies

Programming

Interactive and Digital Games

Digital media technologies

National Broadband Network

Rigging

Digital Reception Technology

Cloud Computing

The Information and Communications Technology Training Packages

Discussion and input from major players in the ICT industry have resulted in the areas mentioned above being covered in the training packages.

The two Training Packages detail competency standards and nationally recognised qualifications for the ICT industry:

Information and Communications Technology Training Package (ICA11)

ICA11 Information and Communications Technology Training Package was endorsed by the National Quality Council on 9th May 2011. ICA11 Training Package includes 397 units of competency and 29 qualifications and 80 identified imported units from other training packages and accredited courses as allowed by the packaging rules. The training package is recognised by industry and training organisation as providing national standards for vocational education. The training package meets ongoing and emerging training needs within the Information Technology industry. The qualifications and units of competency were reviewed and developed to reflect these changes with a number of focus areas specifically identified, including:

Interactive and Digital Games

Digital Media Technologies

Broadband/Wireless

Cloud Computing

Social Web Technologies

Mobile Devices

Network Security

Digital Literacy

Click here for an overview of ICA11 Information and Communications Technology Training Package.

Integrated Telecommunications Training Package (ICT10)

The ICT10 Integrated Telecommunications Training Package provides national competency standards, assessment guidelines and qualifications framework to support the skills and knowledge development and assessment required within the telecommunications industry.

ICT10 incorporates many changes to the Training Package to bring it to the forefront with industry requirements and was endorsed by the National Quality Council on 13 April 2010.With the Federal Government driving the agenda with a number of initiatives including the National Broadband Network (NBN), Digital Education Revolution (DER) and sustainability practices to reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse effects on the environment there has been major work to refresh this Training Package to meet the needs of the Australian industry and the community. The emerging technologies coupled with convergence of many industry sectors has been the reason for the traditional name change of this Training Package.

Click here for an overview of the ICT10 Integrated Telecommunications Training Package v1.

ICT Sector Advisory Committee

IBSA's Sector Advisory Committees (SACs) are a pivotal component of our overarching Stakeholder Engagement strategy which also includes National Project Reference Groups (NPRG). They provide an ideal forum for contemporary industry input and dialogue on industry matters as a means of informing the Board's decisions in important labour market and training areas.

ICT National Project Reference Groups

National Project Reference Groups (NPRGs) are developed on a needs-basis and are responsible for providing advice and feedback to IBSA around specific projects. These groups/committees provide input to the development of project reports, units of competency and other deliverables, and promote the project and its outcomes to other relevant stakeholders. Regular meetings provide a forum for targeted project guidance and industry content expertise; enabling the exchange of ideas, identification of issues, gathering of information, and the development of appropriate solutions